News from August 1996

Pavel Bure is right on time

MOSCOW (AP) -- Hockey fans the world over know Pavel Bure as the Russian Rocket, a prolific goal scorer with lightning speed. Now he's trying to cultivate his ancestors' legendary knack for timing off the ice, too.

The Vancouver Canucks' star right-winger is reviving his family's 19th-century business, the manufacture of luxury watches. Recently he presented his first sample to President Boris Yeltsin.

Bure watches are as much a part of Russia's culture as Faberge eggs or Smirnoff vodka.

The 24-year-old skater is the great-grandson of Pavel Bure, the last of the famous Bures whose company made precious watches for the Russian czars starting in 1815.

The dynasty's founder, Swiss watchmaker Eduard Bure, is said to have been the first to attach a tiny strap to a watch so it could be worn on the hand.

Young Pavel is a vice-president of the Twenty-First Century Association, a nonprofit company based in his native Moscow which is helping to resurrect his ancestors' business, said its president Anzori Kikalishvili.

"Bure has such a strong personality, a sense of history and a self-made fortune made on ice," Kikalishvili said Tuesday in a telephone interview.

"It's marvelous that he is investing his hard-earned money into restoring the old Russian trademark," he said.

Bure, twice a 60-goal scorer in the NHL, has had a lot of time on his hands lately, so to speak. He underwent major knee surgery last November and missed most of the season.

Deemed fully recovered, he has reunited with former teammates Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings and Alexander Mogilny of the Canucks to play for Russia in the upcoming World Cup. The Russians open play Aug. 29 against Team Canada in Vancouver.

He has put his unexpected free months in Russia to good use for his budding business career.

Like his ancestors, Bure plans to have some watch parts made in Switzerland, then shipped to Moscow and St. Petersburg for assembly.

He is now negotiating with the Moscow government about buying one of the formally famous, now-neglected watch factories.

The first 50 gold watches, replicas of the old company's last model, have already been made.

"Since the Bure watches were always made for Russia's top leaders, Bure presented the first three to President Boris Yeltsin, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov," said Kikalishvili.

Members of the Russian royal family always wore Bure watches and used them as awards for service to the crown.

When Russia's last czar, Nicholas II, wanted to present a Bure watch to Fyodor Shalyapin -- the famous singer known for his huge ego -- Shalyapin refused to accept a watch like those given to other singers.

The czar then had to ask for a special watch decorated with diamonds, which Shalyapin accepted and wore the rest of his life.

"If Russia is a great power, it must make fine watches, nice cars and other great and beautiful things," Kikalishvili said. "I don't know about cars, but we can certainly make watches."

Bure will Watch

"There's nothing I can do about it," said Bure. "My health is more important than hockey. I talked with Ross (Davidson) and he said I've still got blood in my urine and a bruise on the kidney. It's one of those things where if I'm not careful I could even lose the kidney."Bure was advised on Tuesday that he couldn't exercise for nine days, which effectively ruled out his participation.

Bure telephoned Team Russia general manager Valentin Sych just before the deadline to advise him of the decision. There had been speculation the Russians would put Bure on the roster in the unlikely event he recovered before the tournament ended.

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Article from 'USA Today'

Thursday, August 29, 1996.

Not all of the NHL's elite skaters are Russian, but most Russians are elite skaters. While North Americans build upper body strength, Russians work on their legs. Vancouver Canucks right wing Pavel Bure remembers his days in Russian youth hockey when he never saw a puck for the first 50 minutes of practice. Skating is hockey in Russia.
"We have bigger ice rinks over there, and you have to skate to play,"says Bure, who won't play tonight because of a bruised kidney. "If you can't skate, how are you going to get the pucks on our rinks ?"
"The Russians are probably better than they have ever been,"St.Louis' Brett Hull says. "They still can wheel and deal, but they are more sound in other parts of the game. And they aren't as easy to intimidate as they used to be."

Some players, coaches and general managers stereotype Russians as players who don't like physical play.
"It was right seven or eight years ago when we were just playing in Russia," Bure says. "But now guys have played five or six or seven over here. We can play tough hockey, too."
He adds: "Every team is physical now, look at (Darius) Kasparaitis on our team."

Bure believes there are four or more teams capable of winning the WorldCup, and he doesn't believe toughness will be a significant factor.
"It will be who can adjust to playing at this time of year,"Bure says. "It will be conditioning."

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Pavel out of the World Cup !

The Ice Hockey Federation of Russia announced late today that Pavel Bure is not playing the rest of the World Cup '96.
His place in the line-up will be taken by Valeri Zelepukin of the New Jersey Devils

BURE COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE FACT HE CAN'T PLAY IN WORLD CUP.

Pavel Bure ambled into GM Place Tuesday and once again headed for the medical room instead of the dressing room.

The Vancouver Canucks' Russian Rocket is out for the World Cup of Hockey with a bruised kidney, just as he was out for most of the last NHL season with a shredded knee. Bure won't be playing with Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny, he'll be visiting Canuck doctor Ross Davidson and trainer Mike Burnstein.
"Well, it's part of hockey," sighed Bure, one of the world'smost electrifying players. "You take a risk every game. Sometimes you can go a really long time without an injury and sometime you get one after the other."

The latter would be true in Bure's case, beginning with a dislocated finger late in last year's pre-season, followed by the torn knee ligaments and now this. His abscence will be a downer for Thursday's sold-out Canada-Russia World Cup opener at GM Place.
"Pavel is a superstar and if he doen't play it will be a big blow to our team," said Russian head coach Boris Mikhailov.

Pavel won't play, Boris. According to Davidson, he won't even be allowed on skates until Sept.6 - two weeks after the hit by Team USA's Brian Leetch- which means he could be eligible for the semi-final round. However, even Bure admits it would be unrealistic for him to be game fit after sitting around for 14 days.
"There's not really much chance I will play," Bure said. "I can't do any skating for at least nine more days and the tournament is almost over by then. I was looking forward to playing but what can you do ? It's an injury. At least I won't need an operation."

The Rocket was checked by Leetch on a clean open-ice hit just inside the American blueline in a tune-up game last Friday. He finished the game and felt nothing was wrong until one or two the next morning.
"I don't really remember the play, it was really quick," said Bure, who tried to hop Leetch with an inside move. "I don't think it was really a hard hit but he got in the right spot. I had a little bit of pain at that time but I was able to play and I didn't even put ice on it. Right after the game, I had blood in my urine and I even laughed with the guys and said maybe there's something wrong with my kidneys. I was just kidding; I didn't know it was so serious."

Bure was examined in Detroit, where the injury occurred, and was advised not to fly. However, he came to Vancouver anyway and suffered the consequences when he experienced some intense pain the following day.
"Three times on Sunday for maybe 40 minutes it was really painful and I did's know what to do," he said. "I've still got a bit of pain now but not like that day."

Mikhailov said he had no problem with the diagnosis and that he is not at odds with the Canucks, who are wisely protecting their $5 million a year investment in the Russian Rocket.
"Naturally I trust the doctors," Mikhailov said.

Valeri Bure, Pavel's kid brother, is among the most chagrined Russians at the latest turn of events. He had been rooming with Pavel on the road and is staying with him while in Vancouver.
"I am very disappointed," said the younger Bure. "It's been a great feeling to spend time with your brother and I've been waiting to play with him for many years. But if this injury is serious, Pavel is not going to be back." The Russians, who went 4-0-1 in their World Cup exhibitions, still figure to be extremely strong without the older Bure.

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Still a chance for Bure

Let's clear up one thing right now. There is nothing wrong with Pavel Bure's knee. But the Vancouver Canucks/Team Russia speedster learned Tuesday that the kidney he bruised in a game Friday in Detroit against Team USAwill keep him off skates for at least nine days. Unless that diagnosis changes, Bure will miss at least the first round of the World Cup. Canadap lays Russia on Thursday at GM Place in the opening game for both teams. The second round begins Sept. 5.
"I spoke to (Vancouver Canucks team doctor Ross Davidson) and he said it'd be at least nine days," Bure said Tuesday before Team Russia's practice at GM Place.
"There's still a chance I might play. I still feel pain but it's nothing like I felt the day before yesterday. I was taking Tylenol 3s every 15minutes."
Bure said he'd be examined again today. He said he'd decide along with the Canucks, Dr.Davidson and Team Russia as to when or even if he'd return.
"It's still me who'll decide but everybody will have a say,"said Bure.

Bure, who drove to practice with brother Valeri of the Montreal Canadiens, was clearly disappointed.
"I was really excited to be in Vancouver playing my first game (since a season-ending knee injury last November)," said Bure. "Especially playing for my country in something like the World Cup. But there's nothing you can do. It's part of hockey. You take risks every game." Team Russia tempers flared up a little bit Monday when the Canucks issued a news release saying Bure would be out two weeks.

Russian spokesman Igor Kuperman said the Canucks had no business making statements like that before consulting them. Tuesday was for reconciliation.
"As long as we talk together, then great," said Kuperman. "But just taking him off the roster before notifying us - that's strange."

Canucks assistant general manager George McPhee said they were just dousing rumours that Bure had reinjured his knee.
"We just wanted to make sure everyone knew the extent of the injury,"said McPhee. "There had been misinformation about him hurting his knee. The Russians don't have a team physician with them. There's a lot trust between Ross and Pavel."

Team Russia head coach Boris Mikhailov said he will accept Davidson's advice.
"Naturally I trust the doctor," he said through an interpreter."I have no hesitation about his diagnosis."

Sergei Nemchinov took Bure's place on a line with Sergei Fedorov and Canucks winger Alexander Mogilny on Tuesday.

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Hey, It's not all that bad !

Team Russia trainer, John Wharton (on loan from Detroit Red Wings), suggested that Pavel's injury is not all that bad. "He injured his kidney; he did't lose it. If you lose a kidney, then you've got problems!"

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Speed Sound

Pavel Bure may not play because of a bruised kidney, but Canucks fans shouldn't despair that knee surgery has slowed him down.
"He hasn't slowed at all," said Team Russia and Vancouver team-mate Alexander Mogilny of Bure's exhibition outings.

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Pavel Puzzled

The Eurobashers have made hay accusing the Russians, Finns and Czechof cheating by starting training camps earlier than Canada, but Vancouver's Pavel Bure doesn't know what to make of it all.
"We were on the ice for the first time on August 14," said Bure of Team Russia's training camp.

Team Canada was on the ice in Whistler for the first time Aug. 15, although most players got in unofficial ice-time the day before.

Russia makes changes after Bure forced to sit

VANCOUVER (CP) -- Sergei Nemchinov is no Pavel Bure, but he'll do in a pinch until the Russian Rocket returns to the launch pad in the World Cup of hockey.

Nemchinov replaced the injured Bure on a line with Russian stars Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny in practice Tuesday while Bure stayed off the ice while recovering from a bruised kidney.

Russian coach Boris Mikhailov indicated a decision will be made today about Bure being retained on the Russian roster for the World Cup tournament that begins for them Thursday against Canada at GM Place.

"I have no hesitation about the diagnosis, which is good," Mikhailov said through an interpreter. "They will make the last test and (Bure) will decide for himself.

"It would be a big loss. He is a superstar."

Bure was injured Friday in Detroit when checked by American captain Brian Leetch during an exhibition game. Bure experienced extreme pain overnight and later flew to Vancouver, where he was examined Sunday by NHL team doctor Ross Davidson of the Canucks.

Davidson determined Bure will be sidelined about two weeks. The Russians must decide if it's worth keeping Bure on the roster until the second round of the tournament, or replacing him with a healthy player from the reserve list.

Bure, 25, wore a black No Fear T-shirt outside the dressing room while calmly answering questions during the 75-minute Russian practice.

"I don't remember the hit," Bure said about the Leetch body check. "It was really quick. He just hit me in the right spot.

"I finished the game and I didn't even put ice on it after the game because I felt really good. Around two o'clock I started to feel pain."

Bure had blood in his urine after the game and even kidded with teammates that he had something wrong with his kidney.

Even without Bure, the Russians figure to be a tournament favorite, along with Canada and the United State. Nemchinov is a solid player known for his checking roles in playing behind Mark Messier with the New York Rangers.

"The Russian team is pretty strong," Bure said. "They can do really well, even without me."

Bure missed most of the last NHL season after undergoing major knee surgery in November. His knee is fine now, but the kidney is another matter.

Russian officials expressed dismay when the Canucks announced Bure was out of the tournament. Any differences of opinion about Bure's condition apparently were resolved.

The Russians already are missing defenceman Vladimir Konstantinov (Achilles tendon hurt playing tennis), left-wing Valeri Kamensky (concern over free-agent status) and defenceman Alexei Gusarov (didn't report).

Russia had a 4-0-1 record in pre-tournament games, including a 4-4 overtime tie Sunday in Calgary against Canada.

"We're going to miss Pavel, big time," added centre Igor Larionov. "He was playing strong after the (knee) injury.

"But we're strong as a team and have a goal to win the championship. We're trying to bring some respect back to Russian hockey."

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Pavel Injured !

The Russian Rocket was injured Friday in Detroit in the USA/Russia exhibition game when checked by Brian Leetch.

Bure, who will be examined by Canucks doctor, Dr.Davidson, played only 15 NHL games last season before knee surgery.

Early prognosis indicates that Pavel will be out of action at least two weeks, completely missing at least the round robin portion of the WorldCup '96 games.

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Pavel ill !

Pavel did not play in Tuesday's (Aug 20th) World Cup warm-up match against Germany in Landshut, Germany.

Although he skated the pre-game warm-up, his place on the line was taken up by Alexei Kovalev, who scored the first goal of the game on a beautiful pass from Sergei Fedorov.

The final score in this game was 4-2 for Russia, who then flew to Detroit for the next World Cup warm-up game.

During the first intermission presentation and speech, Pavel was introduced to the crowd at centre-ice, where he thanked the thousands of his fans for their support, and apologizing for not being able to play.

A boisterous and lively crowd sang Pavel's name ...Pavel Bure.. in unison many times both in the warm-up and during the special intermission. During the warm-up, Pavel was seen talking to Sergei Fedorov, pointing to the crowd shouting out his name.

Being the President of the Pavel Bure Fan Club, this made me very proud to witness such an event, and made me feel all the more determined to continuethe PBFC with lots of energy.

...as printed in the special World Cup brochure by the Russian Hockey Federation about their team... "Pavel Bure, one of the most talented players in the world of hockey,in effect missed the 95/96 season because of a serious injury after which which took a long time to recover from, first in Vancouver and then in Moscow, and gradually began to train.

In summer 1996, after a long course of medical treatment, physicians said that Pavel Bure can participate in the World Cup competition.

'I am looking forward to the beginning of the World Cup tournament', Pavel Bure said in one of the numerous interviews. 'It is for a long time that a major competition with the participation of such strong teams has not been held'.

Five years ago Bure had a chance to take part in the Canada Cup tournament but he was not included in the national team, and he decided to leave Moscow to play in the NHL. According to him, at that time he refused to sign a regular contract with the CSKA, and this explains why he was expelled from the national team.

'I cannot say that it was a blow for me', Pavel claims. 'By that time very many talented players had gone to play for NHL clubs, and the Cup competition itself could hardly be viewed as a tournament of a serious level. I believe that this year the World Cup final will be not less interesting than the final of the Stanley Cup'.

The composition of the lineup in which Bure will play in the World Cup tournament is unknown, but it is abundantly clear that his participation is boosting the interest in the tournament."

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PSST... Do you wanna buy a Watch ?

Vancouver Canucks' Russian Rocket has a new sideline - he's trying to cultivate his ancestors' legendary knack for timing.

Pavel Bure is reviving his family's 19th-century business, manufacture of luxury watches. Recently he presented his first sample to Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Bure watches are as much a part of Russia's culture as Faberge eggs or vodka. The 24 year old right winger is descended from a family whose company made precious watches for the Russian czars starting in 1815.

The dynasty's founder, Swiss watchmaker Eduard Bure, is said to have been the first to attach a tiny strap to a watch so it could be worn on the arm.

Pavel Bure is a vice president of the Twenty-First Century Association, a non-profit company based in his native Moscow that is helping to resurrect his ancestors' business, its president, Anzori Kikalishvili, said yesterday.

"Bure has such a strong personality, a sense of history and a self-made fortune made on ice," Kikalishvili said. "It's marvellous that he is investing his hard-earned money into restoring the old Russian trademark."

Bure, who is playing for Russia in the World Cup, got involved with the company after finding himself with unexpected free time on his hands because of a season-ending injury he suffered last year.

He plans to have some watch parts made in Switzerland, then shipped to Moscow and St.Petersburg for assembly. He's also negotiating to buy one of Moscow's long-neglected watch factories.

The first 50 gold watches, replicas of the old company's last model, have already been made.

"Since the Bure watches were always made for Russia's top leaders, Bure presented the first three to President Boris Yeltsin, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov," said Kikalishvili.

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Cold Starting Pavel...

Apparently the Russian coach of the World Cup squad has been throwing Pavel Bure into a skating practice at full tilt without a warmup.

Think about it. Bure tore the cruciate ligament of his right knee and only played 15 games, sat out the year to heal the knee and then a year later has this happen.

You shouldn't be thrown into any practice halfway through without a warmup even if you had two good knees, let alone a guy with an injured knee just coming back to play.

The Russian coach said "he just wanted to see what he could do"-
...trusting guys making US$5 with such a coach ?

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Bure scores as Russians top Finns

Alexei Yashin scored twice and Pavel Bure's first goal in nearly a year snapped a third-period tie as Russia beat Finland 5-4 Friday in a tune-up game for the World Cup of Hockey tournament which opens later this month.

Bure, who missed most of last season with a serious knee injury, scoredon a dazzling two-on-one break with Vancouver Canucks' teammate Alexander Mogilny at 12:33 of the final period to break a 3-3 deadlock.

"I was a little nervous, but more excited than anything about playing again in my hometown," he said afterward. p>Bure said his knee felt good, but added he will need time to get back in top form.

"This was my first game in 10 months and I'm happy because we won and because I scored a goal. But because I haven't played for 10 months, that had some effect on my play. But my knee did not affect me."

Bure's goal gave Russia back the lead and Fedorov converted a pass from behind the net by Mogilny less than three minutes later to seal the win. Bure said he expects considerable improvement during the team's four remaining exhibition games prior to the opening of the tournament.

"Not everything clicked like we had planned tonight, but I think we have the time and the desire to overcome our mistakes. I think we'll see a little bit better Russian team when we play our first game against TeamCanada on August 29."

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